What is the meaning of Genesis 13:7? And there was discord • “There was strife” signals real tension, not a passing annoyance. • Blessing had produced abundance (Genesis 13:2), yet unmanaged blessing can breed conflict (cf. Genesis 26:20; James 4:1). • Scripture consistently warns that unchecked disputes fracture fellowship meant to glorify God (Proverbs 15:18; Romans 12:18). between the herdsmen of Abram • Abram’s servants managed vast flocks God had granted (Genesis 12:16; 24:35). • Their quarrel reflects the leader’s responsibility: prosperity requires wise oversight (Proverbs 27:23–24). • Abram’s later response of peacemaking (Genesis 13:8-9) models the heart of a faith-filled patriarch (Matthew 5:9). and the herdsmen of Lot • Lot, blessed by association with Abram (Genesis 13:5), now experiences the test wealth can bring (1 Timothy 6:9-10). • The verse foreshadows Lot’s pattern of incremental compromise—first conflict, then a move toward Sodom (Genesis 13:12-13). • Family ties alone cannot substitute for personal faith and discernment (Luke 17:32). At that time • The phrase anchors the incident within God’s unfolding promise; the land is not yet possessed, only promised (Genesis 12:7). • God allows tension in the waiting period to refine character and clarify calling (Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-4). the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land • Their presence underscores limited pasture and explains the immediate pressure on resources (Deuteronomy 7:1). • It reminds readers that Abram and Lot are sojourners, dependent on God’s future fulfillment (Hebrews 11:9-10). • The notation hints at a watching world; how believers handle conflict serves as testimony among unbelievers (1 Peter 2:12). summary Genesis 13:7 records a very human clash birthed by God-given prosperity, testing Abram’s and Lot’s hearts while pagans looked on. The strife urges faithful stewardship, peacemaking leadership, and patient trust in promises not yet fully seen, all while living before a watching world. |
    |